OHHAMILT-L Archives

From: "Adina Watkins Dyer" <>
Subject: [OHHAMILT] Letter from John Cleves Symmes
Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2001 19:35:50 -0500

These are transcriptions done by Lyman C. Draper of letters and other
writings by Judge John Cleves Symmes. One if a letter written by John
Symmes to his wife's family, informing them of her death and of her last few
days. John Symmes was first married to Anne Tuthill. Their daughter Anne
was married to William Henry Harrison. The notes in ( ) in the letter are
Draper's (except those with a ?, those are mine when I had a hard time
reading the handwriting).
____________________________________________________

LETTERS OF JUDGE JOHN CLEVES SYMMES

SYMMES PAPERS, Series 115WW, DRAPER MANUSCRIPTS
pp. 2-11

"I am 71 years of age this 21st July, 1813 - but am no longer healthy as
usual, having as I believe a deadly cancer in my mouth and chin - my under
lip being already gone by eight times cutting by the doctors - all to no
purpose - my case is worse now than when they began to practise on it 6
months ago" Judge Symmes daybook.

Sept. 17-1791, Judge Symmes receives a letter from Mr. Jefferson.
St. Clair's defeat: fall of '91: (Judge Symmes wounded by a bullet)
Nov. 25, 1792 (Seal it & let it go to Mr. Secretary Jefferson.")

Copy of a letter from Judge Symmes to Mr. & Mrs. Reeves (Mrs. R. being the
sister of Mrs. Symmes) on the death of his first wife, the mother of Mrs.
Harrison, & my grandmother - who is buried at Shapuac on the Delaware
river - below Flat Brook? - Flatbrookville) J.C.S.

"Dear Brother & Sister, Flat Brook, the
27th July, 1776
It is a melancholy occasion that puts the pen in my hand at this
time. I know not how to tell you, but it is a solemn truth, that your dear
sister Anna is no more. I am but now returned from depositing her remains
in that house appointed for all living, the grave. I know that it must
strike you almost to statues, & I fear it will be to poor father & mother
Tuthill more than they can bear. I shall write only to you, sister. I am
persuaded of your more than common fortitude as a woman, & I hope you will b
e exceeding tender, but I cannot direct your for in communicating the awful
news to her parents. I know it is natural after we hear of the death of a
dear friend to desire to be informed of some of the circumstances attending
the latter part of their days. I will, as near as I am able, give you're a
history of her life for six or eight weeks before her death.
In the first place the common calamity of war has influenced our measures
for sometime.
I was at New York five weeks in the spring with the troops. My
absence, & the danger she apprehended me in, had been matter of deep concern
to your poor sister during that time. I had no thought in my heart (I
appeal to God for the truth) but that at my return she would have come to
Long Island immediately. On my way home through our county application was
made to me to represent this county in provincial congress. When I came
home I found her much set against my serving in the army any more. I told
her it would be impossible to avoid any further command while I commanded a
battalion, & was not otherwise publicly employed but that if she chose I
would give consent to go to Congress and that might protect me from the war,
which she abundantly preferred. But still the dear soul was desirous if
possible, to go to see her friends at the Island. I was equally so, but
there seemed to be many things to interfere. Especially these: we were
daily, as you well know, expecting a movement to New York that for ought we
knew, might cut off all communication and I thought she nor any of you were
not so safe even from the ravages and terrors of fire and sword at
Southold(?) as you might be here. I did fondly hope that father, mother &
you sister, would have come up here. HANNAH BROWN had also been sick, and
is yet scarce able to crawl about house. She has been unwell all the spring
and summer - to leave her, my dear wife knew not how, besides our family
must have been broke up and I proposed to her to break up entirely, while
she went to the Island, but that was much against her mind. She saw her
cows would be dry, her flax and wool unspun, and we should be in a manner
ruined. She, poor soul, was perfectly right, but still she wished to go. I
told her that if she could think of staying until my return from Congress,
for by that time (we) might possibly know the enemy's intentions and true
issue of attack. HANNAH might be recovered of her illness and able to keep
house. My dear wife might have her spinning done to her mind, and everything
seemed to weigh in favor of her stay. We had gone so far as to fix a waggon
with a shad for their comfort on the road - but it was not to be - here the
sweet soul was to end her days. She gave over going, _?_ girls to spin, and
impatiently waited my return. I was gone precisely five weeks; when I came
home to see my hay and harvest I found your dear sister about house and
seemed in good spirits, but she told me she had had a fit of ague on
Thursday & Friday - this was Saturday. She had considerable fever that
night. Sunday morning she took a small vomit which worked pretty well - the
doctor came that day to see HANNAH. I proposed that he should administer
something to your sister, but he said h e had nothing suitable for her, &
and would be here on Tuesday and bring medicine. He did not come until
Thursday, however, during which time she seemed very drooping. She talked
on Monday morning to ride down to MR. SCOTT's with me, but while I was in
the field till late in the morning she grew more poorly. When I came in,
she told me she could not go to MR. SCOTT's - she went to bed in the
afternoon, was thirsty all night, Tuesday morning seemed a little better,
but kept her bed most of the day. She put bardock(?) leaves on her feet at
night, Wednesday she complained of a violent pain in her back, said she
believed it the same she had last fall so long. She had had pain in her
head from her being taken. The doctor came on Thursday and brought several
sorts of drugs. She took every (thing) exceeding well - the doctor said the
fever was the (long) fever (The reasons fever as none called" - Mrs.
Harrison) - the baby (Mrs. Harrison, now) was very troublesome. I was
obliged to keep it in my arms from morning to night, for several days.
Friday and Saturday I could perceive no alteration; only she grew weaker so
that I carried her in my arms to another bed while hers was made up. On
Sunday I thought she altered considerably for the worse, her voice changed
and her old disorder of the asthma was exceeding troublesome to her, and had
been since Thursday. This day MRS. BEAMER took little ANNA home to her
house where she is yet. Exceeding low at night, her fever still continued
exceeding severe. On Monday, the doctor came again, seemed to be in doubt
of her recovery but ordered two blisters on her legs which drew very well.
I laid again t make four blisters, but these last would not draw, and the
first seemed to dry all up, though we dressed them well. On Monday in the
afternoon she seemed to be stupefied. POLLY (MRS. SHORT, that afternoon
was), MRS. BEAMER & myself was by the bed. She observed that we shed
tears - she asked if we thought her dying. I answered, no my dear, but I am
afraid you will - she seemed affrighted. I comforted here - reminded her of
her two babes gone before her - told her we must all soon follow; she must
strive to and submit to God, & trust in Christ. She wished for clearer
evidence of her Savior's love. I asked her who should have the baby if she
left it. She said Granny (grandmother) TUTHILL must have that, and POLLY
too. She blamed me afterwards for weeping before her; she said it
affrighted her.
Tuesday she lay exceeding ill - we could scarce understand what she
said. She seemed sensible only when she first awoke, she was a little
lost(?) sometimes. Towards day two women & myself being by, she saw
something. I bent my ear to her mouth, when she clasped both arms around my
neck prity love says she, & kissed me three times. She apparently grew
worse every hour; her mouth & tongue was all crusted with the fever (a
blank area here) we constantly met with proper composition. She
(inclines) to sleep much and on Wednesday about noon I took the baby to the
bed side; she looked wistfully on it, tried to speak but could not; she,
poor creature, wept when I removed the child. We gave her some stewed
cinnamon water, when I put it in her mouth with a tea spoon, she spoke
again, that's good. About sun an(?) hour high Wednesday next (Draper's
note: night?), I perceived she was struck with death. I had sent for MRS.
SCOTT and LISA OSBORN early in the morning - her arms grew cold, but she
seemed to breathe easy all night, & slept considerably; on Thursday, the
25th instant, she looked about us all, seemed to take great notice - her
eyes looked pleasant - her hand grew colder. She continued seemingly
sensible to her last, which was about sun an hour high at night. Remarkable
for its being the very day she well nigh left the world last year at the
birth of her dear baby. After a tedious sickness of fifteen days she left
us all in tears, & went into the world of spirits, & I make no doubt in the
least to (the realms) of eternal happiness of bliss & joy."

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